Three Weeks, One Toyota

Picture this: Five people, one car, and three weeks of pure, unfiltered road trip chaos. Sounds like the setup for either a heartwarming indie film or a psychological experiment. Thankfully, ours leaned more toward the former.

Our road trip included the following crew,

Elias, one my best friend and the designated “wild card” of the group.
Elina, my sister-in-law, effortlessly stylish even after sleeping in a car.
Maddie, A local Aussie I’d spoken to exactly once before this trip, but who turned out to be an absolute legend and, in hindsight, the best thing about Australia.
Laura and me, two slightly tired travellers just here for the good vibes and the kangaroos.

Armed with Maddie’s trusty Toyota and a loose plan that mostly revolved around “drive and see cool stuff,” we hit the road.

Let’s break it down. 🚗✨

Melbourne

Our journey began in Melbourne, a city that feels like if hipsters designed a utopia.

Before staring our road trip me and Laura did our first House sitting gig in the suburbs of Melbourne. We stayed for a few days in a cool home taking care of a Dog (Bernie) and a cat (Jose). Those two were so much fun. We miss our own dog so much that it was a blast to spend time with a dog. And Jose (the cat) was the most social cat ever. We had a New Years and Lauras birthday dinner with the group.

We then mentally prepared for the fact that we'd be living in a car for three weeks and hoped Maddie’s Toyota (our noble steed) would carry us safely across the land of giant spiders and aggressive sunshine.

And so the road trip begins.

Canberra

Ah, Canberra. The capital city of Australia that most Australians forget exists. We did everything there was to do, which, shockingly, only took a weekend. No shade, Canberra, but you reminded me more of Kirkkonummi than any other cool places we have seen. Maddie took us to the Finnish consulate though and that was pretty cool.

Sydney: Ferries, Opera, and an Engagement

Next up was Sydney, where we did the obligatory ferry ride and admired the Opera House like the proper tourists we are. I do prefer Melbourne over Sydney but I gotta give some love to Sydney because what happened next. Perhaps the real highlight of the trip? Elias and Elina got engaged! That’s right. Love was in the air, and Elias decided this was the time to pop the question. I am 99% sure that we got Maddie to thank for the fact that any proposal was done.

The Perfect Proposal in Sydney

Elias had the perfect plan, a beach with stunning views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. But first, we had an incredible dinner at Totti, an Italian spot that blew us away. While we ate, Maddie snuck off with a clever excuse to set up the proposal.

To buy time, Elias, Elina, Laura, and I stopped by another famous beach (can’t remember the name, but it was cool). Then came the text from Maddie: Everything’s ready.

We told Elina we were going for a swim. She hesitated, but Elias convinced her. At the beach, he led her behind a rock to "change," revealing the beautifully arranged setup. And just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, a wedding photographer just happened to be there and captured the whole thing for free, even with a drone!

And, of course, she said yes. A magical night, a perfect proposal. 💍✨

Byron Bay: The Bali We Actually Wanted

Byron Bay was everything we had hoped Bali would be, but so much better. It had the same laid-back, surfer-y vibe, the same stunning beaches, but without the chaos. No insane traffic, no endless honking, no near-death experiences on scooters. Just pure, easygoing paradise.

It was cleaner, friendlier, and had this effortlessly cool energy, like a place where time slows down just enough for you to truly enjoy it. Every street felt welcoming, every beach was postcard-perfect, and the whole town just had this magicabout it.

And the food? Unreal. We had some of the best kebabs ever, juicy, packed with flavor, the kind of meal that makes you stop mid-bite just to appreciate how good it is. Byron Bay wasn’t just a stop on the trip; it was a highlight. 💙🌊

Brisbane

After that little slice of paradise (and quite possibly the best kebab of our lives), we packed up and made our way north to Brisbane. The vibe shifted from laid-back beach town to full-on city life, more skyscrapers, more energy, and of course, more incredible food.

By this point in the trip, we had spent a lot of time together, crammed into one vehicle, living out of bags, and running on a mix of adventure and exhaustion. Yet, somehow, against all odds, we were still getting along. No major fights, no dramatic meltdowns, just a lot of laughter, road trip anthems, and inside jokes that no one else would ever understand.

Honestly, we were all a little surprised that no one had started secretly plotting each other’s downfall. Maybe it was the good food. Maybe it was the good company. Either way, we were still rolling. 🚗✨

A Zoo

Of course, we couldn’t leave Australia without seeing some of its most iconic residents. So, naturally, we made our way to the zoo for the ultimate Aussie wildlife experience.

First up, koalas. And yes, they were just as fluffy, sleepy, and ridiculously cute as we had imagined. Watching them lazily cling to eucalyptus trees, completely unbothered by the world, was a mood we could all relate to.

Then came the kangaroos. Getting up close with them felt surreal, like stepping into a nature documentary. Some were lounging in the sun, others bouncing around effortlessly, making us all question why humans aren’t naturally this athletic. We even got to feed a few, which was both adorable and slightly nerve-wracking.

Final Stop: Back to Sydney, Off to the Next Adventure

After looping back to Sydney, it was time for Laura and me to say goodbye to our little road trip family. Three weeks, five people, one car—somehow, we had made it through without losing our minds (or each other).

We had survived hostels that ranged from quaint and cozy to questionable and mildly concerning. We had clocked countless hours in Maddie’s ever-reliable Toyota.

Through all of it, the long drives, the late nights, the belly laughs, and the minor inconveniences that turned into inside jokes, we had somehow come out the other side still liking each other. No small feat after weeks of living in close quarters.

With one last round of hugs, we parted ways, each of us heading off to new adventures. But this road trip? This one would be hard to top.